Toy container



Sept. 26, 1933. M. SWEITZER 1,928,323

ToY CONTAINER Filed April 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F 1 E1 EDA M42 771V SWE/ 7-252 M. SWEITZER TOY CONTAINER Sept. 26, 1933.

Filed April 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l-llll-Ill Patented Sept. 26, 1933 UNITED 1 STATES PATENT. OFFICE TOY CONTAINER Martin Sweitzer, Chicago, 111. Application April 24, 1933. Serial No. 667,535

2 Claims.

. 'used as atoy.

An object of the. present invention is to provide a combined package and toy which may be used as a container for packaged merchandise, and readily converted into a toy vehicleafter it has served its purpose as a container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a, combined package and toy wherein the package is made in the similitude of a railway car having the usual wheels and axles, and in which packaged merchandise may be sold.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combination package and toy which is adapted to contain packaged merchandise during storage, shipment and sale of the same, and is so designed and arranged that, after the package or container has completed its service as such, it may then be quickly converted into a toy vehicle, thus providing a useful purposefor the empty container.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a combined package and toy, for containing packaged merchandise, wherein the toy is made in the similitude of a vehicle of approxi-i mate shape and outline of the packaged content,

and so arranged that the package contents are completely enclosed and protected.

The above, other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following v description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a train of cars consisting of packages embodying principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line II--II of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmental, enlarged, vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line III-III of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken sub-. stantially in the plane of line VV of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal view taken through the tank car of the train, illustrated in Fig. 1.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line VIIVII of'Flg. 1.

"The drawings will now be explained.

The containers or receptacles of the present invention may be made in any suitable form to serve the useful purpose of receptacles of packaged merchandise, and also later as toys, after the merchandise has been removed. I

The present invention is exemplified in receptacles made in the similitude of railway cars arranged to be fastened together in a railway train.

Figure 1 illustrates a train of cars, that is a toy train, made up of receptacles of the present invention and embodiesa locomotive A, a gondola car B, a box car C, a tank car D, and a caboose E.

The containers of the illustrated form of the invention are shown as adapted for enclosing canned products, such as oil or the like.

The locomotive A comprises a'body element 1 and a bottom element 2. These elements 1 and 2 may be made of any suitable material, preferably of inexpensive material, such as tin, stiff cardboard, or other material.

The bottom 2 is formed with depending lugs 3, shown with two on each side of the bottom, which lugs are apertured. The body A is, at its lower margin, provided with depending lugs 4 which are arranged to register with the lugs 3, and which are apertured to register with the apertures in the lugs 3.

Axles 5 are arranged to be inserted through the apertures in the lugs 3 and 4, which axles carry wheels 6 and '7. The wheels '7 are removably secured to the axles 5, as, for instance, by cotter pins 8 inserted through suitable holes in the axle ends.

The body 1 is removable from the body element 2, by removing the wheels '7 from the axles, withdrawing the axles from the lugs, and then lifting the body 1 from the bottom 2.

The locomotive A is illustrated as enclosing a can 9, the contour of which is substantially that of the contour of the body of the locomotive.

A coupling hook 10 is suitably fastened to the bottom 2 for coupling engagement with a car of the train.

The gondola car B is made of inexpensive material, such for instance, as tin or other like sheet metal or stiff cardboard, and comprises a body 11, depending lugs 12, which lugs carrythe axles 13 on which are the wheels 14 and 15. The wheels 15 are removably secured to the axles by means of cotter pins 16, or equivalent fastening means.

The gondola car B is illustrated as Supplied with a can 17 for merchandise. The gondola car B is structed in this manner, then the roof 21 may be hinged at 22 to a portion of. the body, for pro-- vidingaccess to the interior of the body. When the roof 21 is hinged, as aforesaid, a latch 23 is provided engageable with some part of the outside of the car body, for securing the roof in closed position. The box car C may be supplied with a package 24 having substantially the shape and contour of the box car. I

The tank car D comprises a body 29 having. portions thereof forming depending lugs'26 for' receiving axles 27, which axles in turn carry wheels 28. The body 29 is cylindrical and is secured to the bottom by means of metallic straps 30 surrounding the body and having the ends extending through and bentunderneath the bottom 25 of the car. This manner of attaching thestraps 30 is illustrated in Fig. 5. The tank car is provided with a suitable coupler 31. The body 29 of the tank car is provided with a removable end 32, whereby access to the interior of the body may be had. The removable'end 32 is fashioned as a cap and is frictionally retained withinthe open end of the body 29.- The tank car 'D is illustrated as enclosing a cylindrical package 33.

The'oaboose E comprises a bottom 34 supported by wheels 35 carried on axles 36 and en gaging suitable lugs fastened and attached to the bottom 34. The body 3'7, of the caboose, has its lowermargin slightly offset outwardly as at 38 tofrictionally engage the margin of the bottom 34 and thus retain the body and bottom in assembled association. The caboose E may-be supplied with a can such as the cans illustrated in- Figures 2, 3 and 4. V

The various receptacles herein described and illustrated, afiord convenient containers for packaged merchandise, in which the merchandise is offered for sale. When the merchandise has been removed, then the containers become available as toys for the children.

The receptacles may be finished in any desirfrom the receptacles.

able manner of decoration, such as by lithograph, paint, or other form of decoration.

The closed receptacle must of course be provided with means for gaining access to the interior thereof for the purpose of inserting packaged goods as well as for removing such goods The receptacles of the present invention respond readily to such manner of separation in the body and bottom portions whereby access may be readily had to the interior of the same.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrange- 'ment and proportion of parts and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A combined toy and package comprising a receptacle made in the similitude of a railway car, said car having a bottom and a closed body for'enclosing a package, said bottom having depending apertured lugs for axles, said body having depending apertured lugs for axles disposed to engage the outsides of the first mentioned lugs when said body is mounted on the bottom with the lugs and apertures in register, axles passing through the lug apertures, and wheels on said axles, the engagement of the axles with the apertured lugs constituting the sole meansfor connecting together said body and said bottom.

2..A combined toy and package comprising a receptacle made in the similitude of a railway car, said car having a bottom and a closed body for enclosing a package, said body having lugs extending below the lower margin of said body, said carbottom having similar lugs extending downwardly therefrom, the body lugs engaging the outsides of the bottom lugswhen the toy is assembled, axles carried by. said lugs, and wheels I 

